Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 15th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
jminifie,
Avalanche Canada
If you venture into the alpine with the clear weather, be aware that old wind slabs linger and new ones could be forming . Cornices are large in some areas and could become active when it warms up in the afternoons. Deeper layers should still be on your mind outside the Lizard Range.
Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches of note have been reported in the area over the last few days.
Dry Loose avalanches to size 1 were reported from steep, confined upper elevation features.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 10 cm of new snow filled with graupel sits on top of previously wind impacted snow. The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated and sits on a thick crust. The bottom of the snowpack still consists of weak, sugary crystals that are slowly gaining strength in areas with a deeper snowpack.
Cornices continue to grow with the wind.
Deep persistent slab avalanches should still be on your radar in areas outside of the Lizard Range such as the Bull River, Elkford, and the Flathead.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Clear. Winds from the southwest at 15 km/h. Temperature dipping down to -10ËšC.
Thursday
Clear. Winds from the southwest at 20 km/h. Temperature -10ËšC in the morning rising to -3ËšC in the afternoon. Solar effect is likely.
FridayClouds returning. Flurries delivering 2 - 4 cm of snow. Winds from the southwest at 20 km/h
SaturdayCloudy. 5 cm of new snow. Winds from the southwest at 20 km/h. Temperature -4ËšC.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
- Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds do continue to blow at higher elevations and there is snow available for transport so continue to watch for wind slab development as you move through wind exposed terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A layer of faceted grains near the base of the snowpack remains on the radar for areas of this region where the snowpack is shallow and where a hard melt-freeze crust formed around Christmas does not exist. This describes most areas outside the Lizard Range such as the Bull River, Flathead, and Elkford.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 16th, 2023 4:00PM
